Moistener for cigars and the like.



G. H. MAAS.

MOISTENER FOR CIGARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, 19m.

L135fl1fi% Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

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GEORGE H. MAAS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IVIOISTENER FOR CIGARS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915,

7 Application filed August 28, 1911. Serial No. 646,473.

To all whomit may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MAAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Moisteners for Cigars and the like, of which the following is a specification.

Experience has demonstrated that when water is permitted to flow by gravity from a reservoir to an evaporating surface of a moistener, such surface is liable to soon be come over saturated, when the excess of water will drip, whereby the goods and inclosing case become damaged or spoiled.

The object of my invention is therefore, among other things, to provide a device by which the evaporating surface of the moistener will be supplied with water no faster than it evaporates, whereby the danger from overflowing or dripping of water is avoided, and whereby the supply of moisture will be constant and more or less rapid according to the condition of the atmosphere and the requirements of the goods to be moistened.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view thereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section, drawn on line ca-a: of Fig. 2.

Like parts are identified by the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

1 is a water tight reservoir, in which a quantity of water 2 is stored. The reservoir 1 is preferably made of zinc or other non-corrosive metal, when its exterior surface is covered with a moistening pad 3, formed of asbestos or other absorbent material, which is securely held in place by a retaining shield 4, which shield is preferably made of perforated sheet zinc, or other non-corrosive material.

5 is a nozzle, through which the reservoir is filled with water, preparatory to use. The nozzle 5 is provided with a screw threaded surface 6 for the reception of the screw threaded cap 7. The periphery of the cap 7 is turned over, forming an annular groove 8 for the reception of an annular packing ring 9, whereby when the cap 1s turned down in said nozzle, a water tight joint is formed between the end of said nozzle and cap. When the moistening pad and shield are in place, they are thus secured by the end caps or members 10, which inclose the ends of the reservoir, pad and shield, and give to the moistener a neat and finished appearance.

11, 11, are chains, by which the moistener is adapted to be suspended with the mouth of the nozzle down in position for use. Then the moistener is thus suspended in position for use, the water in the reservoir 1 is led from the interior to the exterior of the reservoir by capillary attraction through the vertical duct 12 and wick 13.

Especial attention is called to the fact that the only means of. communication between the interior of the reservoir and said moistening pad by which water can be led to such pad, is through said duct and wick; that when said tank is in its upright position with the nozzle up, the water will remain in the reservoir indefinitely, but as soon as the reservoir is inverted for use, all of the water in the reservoir will gradually flow of its own gravity into the nozzle 5 around the lower end of the wick, when it is caused by capillary attraction to ascend said wick and is discharged at the upper side exterior of the tank, where it is first brought into direct contact with the moistening pad, when it is rapidly absorbed by and disseminated throughout the entire area of said pad. Especial attention is also called to the fact that the mouth of the vertical duct 12, when inverted, is below the lowest points of the reservoir, whereby the water is led by capillary attraction from a lower to a higher level, and the wick is thereby prevented from acting as a siphon, as it would otherwise do were the inlet end of said duct 12 cut oil, so as to terminate at a higher point in the reservoir. By the construction shown, the Water can escape from the reservoir only as fast as it is elevated by capillary attraction, and the danger, therefore, that might otherwise arise from overflowing or dripping, is thereby wholly overcome.

While I have shown the duct 12 centrally located in the reservoir, and leading directly from its lower side to the pad through its upper side, it is obvious that the location of said duct and wick may be changed without changing the principle of operation of the device, one of the primary objects of which is,.as stated, to supply the moistening pad With Water Which is led to it by capillary adapted to inclose the ends of said reservoir, pad andvshield, a nozzle communicating 'from the. interior of said reservoir through said moistening pad and shield, a Water tight cap inclosing the mouth ofsaid nozzle, a vertical duct centrally suspended in said reservoir, one end of said duct belngv connected wlth the Walls of and communicating-through an aperture formed in one side of said reservoir, and its'opposite end terminating in said nozzle, a Wick located in said'nozzle and vertical duct and adapted, When said moistener is inverted, to

Copies of this patent may be obtained for conduct by capillary attraction, thewater from. the interior of said reservoir to the "moistening pad located upon itsiexterior surface, and means for suspending said moistener in an inverted position, all substantially as and for the purpose specified. 2. A cylindrical moistener comprising a reservoir, a cap-closed filling neck depending from the bottom Wall of the reservoir, a vertically disposed open ended nozzle in communication with the top Wall of the reservoir and extending into the filling neck, absorbent material incasing the reservoir Walls and extending into the nozzle to constitute a Wick, and a perforated retaining jacket fitted about the absorbent material.

3. A moistener comprising a reservoir having a neck extending from its bottom face, 'anozzle depending from the upper Wall of the reservoir and terminating below the plane of the bottom Wall thereof Within the neck, and absorbent material incasing the reservoir and extending into the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' GEORGE H. MAAS.

Witnesses:

JAs. B. ERWIN, I. D. BREMER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

